chairman

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The head of a corporate or governmental board of directors, a committee, or other formal entity.

   When I got ready to leave, why, Chairman Mao came down to the plane. Chairman Mao gave me some Chinese rugs and told me that I was the only prisoner of war that had ever come through there from North China.

2. 2
   noun

   Someone whose job is to carry people in a portable chair, sedan chair, or similar conveyance.

   Mr Western entered; but not before a small wrangling bout had passed between him and his chairmen; for the fellows, who had taken up their burden at the Hercules Pillars, had conceived no hopes of having any future good customer in the squire […]

3. 3
   noun

   the officer who presides at the meetings of an organization

4. 4
   verb

   to act or preside as chair, as of an academic department in a university

5. 5
   noun

   A person presiding over a meeting.

6. 6
   verb

   To serve as chairman.

Etymology

From chair + -man.